Comments on: Jimmy Fallon, Liturgical Traditionalist

By: enness

enness — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:40:46 +0000

Stefano, Jimmy Fallon is not your brother, and unless you know him that well or can give us some concrete examples I’d refrain from commenting about what he does on the Lord’s day (I don’t know what you’re referring to there; his show? That is taped on weekdays) or any other day.
About your brother: maybe he needs you to insist, gently but firmly, on going with him. ;)

By: Graham Combs

Graham Combs — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:42:59 +0000

Cardinal Arinze once cautioned against what he called “Rev. Showman.” And yet there are priests who know how to find the humor that arises out the readings or the struggle to be a Catholic. I know such a priest at the parish where I attend mass regularly.

But I cannot be alone in occasionally composing a fantasy “sermon” now and again. There is an episode on the Simpsons in which Rev. Lovejoy falls ill and Ned Flanders rips off his shirt and tie to reveal a clerical collar and jumps into the pulpit prepared sermon in hand — unfortunately for him he looks out at the congregation and faints.

Is Jimmy Fallon playing it for laughs? Sure. But is he that wrong about the lack of seriousness at some Eucharistic celebrations? Not to mention the instant intimacy that is to protestant by half (speaking as a convert here). If you have the opportunity, attended a Chaldean or Maronite mass — somber, devout, and shaming in its seriousness. It seems to me that Mr. Fallon is making a disturbing point about American Catholics — that can’t distinguish between worship and entertainment.

By: D Thakur

D Thakur — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:36:43 +0000

Just because he or others don’t attend the TLM even though it’s more widely available doesn’t mean there’s no point to their experience.

Many Catholic thought, “this is our true faith,” and then were told guitars and clown Masses were fine too. Even if the TLM was next door, many of them would be (psychologically) justified in saying, “well this is crazy … if all this is okay, then religion is really just a joke.”

How will we convince the world we offer a consistent faith and are not a joke as long as the clown masses are tolerated anywhere?

A tangent, but related would be ecumenism with the Orthodox. Frankly, it would be stupid for the Orthodox to return to communion with us while we still have the NO — why would they lower themselves to that level?

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:09:01 +0000

I heard this entire interview in May ’11. I don’t know if that was the first time but it was
replayed a few weeks ago.

By: Paola

Paola — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:02:27 +0000

REVERENCE is kind of a big deal when in presence of the Lord.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:34:34 +0000

It may be tongue in cheek, but he brings up a good point. If those in charge of the Mass don’t celebrate in a reverent way, how can we expect those participating to be reverent?

And if Mass is not seen as reverent worship, what brings people in from their usual, irreverent lives?

People find peace in the challenge of the reverent and solemn Mass. Once it turns into a show, it’s just competing with whatever other fun thing is scheduled for the day…

By: bob cratchit

bob cratchit — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:48:14 +0000

I can’t help but wonder if this is all tongue in cheek. I mean, Jimmy Fallon being the jokester he is…Idk, I can see this on Jon Stewarts show or something.

By: Stefano

Stefano — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:46:22 +0000

My brother says the same things, and like Jimmy rarely attends Mass. When I pointed out to my brother many diocesan parishes (less than 20 minutes from where he lives) that provide a solid, liturgy (even a few Latin Mass options), of course he does not attend. Jimmy is just going for laughs and rationalizing why he doesn’t live his faith of “identity”. He lives for himself on the Lord’s Day and other days. For this site to use him as a “cite” to promote (directly or indirectly) the Traditional Mass is ridiculous. In my opinion, it is silly to believe that the pews would be full with secular liberals if the Traditional Mass was the ordinary form. But I’m sure many reading this will take exception. I can hear Jimmy and the like making jokes about incense and chant even as I type. Wake up.

By: stefano

stefano — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:38:43 +0000

I have a brother of the same mindset. Of course when I pointed out several traditional parishes, including a few Latin options in the diocese, he does not attend, ever. It’s a bunch a bunk. It’s all about Jimmy. Laughs, what he prefers, doing as he pleases on the Lord’s Day. With all due respect, I think it’s pathetic to use him as a citation for “Traditional Mass” promotion. Gee, as the Latin Mass as spread, the pews have been filled with secular liberals? Dream on…

By: Jeanne G.

Jeanne G. — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:31:24 +0000

Jason, Jimmy Fallon was BORN post-conciliar. He obviously was accustomed to reverence before he fell away.
Let’s pray for Jimmy to return to Holy Mother Church.